Josh Heupel’s first truly ugly loss at Tennessee came last season to South Carolina in Columbia.

The Gamecocks blasted Tennessee’s secondary in the penultimate game of the regular season to keep the Vols out of the CFP. QB Hendon Hooker and the offense were out of sync, but the cherry on top came in the 2nd half when Hooker tore his ACL had to miss the remainder of the season.

Tennessee fans have circled this Saturday’s matchup against the Gamecocks for some time. That’s the point here.

But for the Vols, it’s just another game (or at least that’s what they say on the outside.) Defensive lineman Bryson Eason told reporters that Monday.

Josh Heupel held a similar sentiment, saying last year’s game has “nothing to do” with Week 5. He’s focused on keeping his players in the moment in a situation that is far from what Tennessee found itself in last season against the Gamecocks.

Here’s what he had to say:

Here’s the ugly truth, Tennessee fans: This one is not going to be a cakewalk just for revenge’s sake. Spencer Rattler is playing like one of the better QBs in the nation so far despite South Carolina’s 2-2 record.

Keep in mind, South Carolina’s 2 losses came to a pair of teams currently ranked inside the top 15, including No. 1. And they were leading No. 1 at the half 2 weeks ago.

Now, that’s not to say South Carolina is a world-killer or anything. Shane Beamer himself said last Saturday that Heupel and the Vols have to be licking their chops to face the Gamecocks’ struggling secondary. USC’s offensive line still has its share of issues as well.

We’ll learn a lot about both squads Saturday, that’s for sure. The Vols and Gamecocks kick off at 7:30 ET on SEC Network from Knoxville.